Monday, April 5, 2010

Chicago pre-trip #3: Barack Obama's Chicago

One of the great things about going to Chicago last year was that it was fresh on the heels of Barack Obama becoming the first African American president of the U.S.

The guy's picture was everywhere, like he was famous or something. Go figure!

As a result, I gave our students a blogging assignment to visit at least three of the following Chicago destinations related to Barack Obama, which I compiled from a wide variety of sources - though I think most of the heavy lifting was from the Chicago Tribune and New York Times.

In fact, the Chicago Tribune has an awesome Obama map companion piece right here.

A shout out to these sources - and the forgotten ones!

I'm not going to give the same assignment this year, but it might make a fun afternoon out for someone looking for something presidential to do on their travels:

Obama family home

5046 S. Greenwood Ave

Chicago, IL 60615

The Obamas bought the house for $1.7 million in 2005. (Warning - Secret Service is blocking access to the area.)

Former condo

5450 SE View Park

Chicago, IL 60615

A condo where the family lived for 12 years.

Trinity United Church of Christ

400 W. 95th St.

The church the Obamas left because of controversial remarks by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Barber shop

1464 E 53rd St

Chicago, IL 60615

The now-defunct barbershop where, for 20 years, Obama got his hair cut.

Hyde Park Hair Salon

5234 S. Blackstone Ave.

773-493-6028

Where Obama gets his hair cut now.

Old Baskin Robbins

1400 E 53rd St

Chicago, IL 60615

A red brick building with green awnings housed the now-closed Baskin-Robbins where he and Michelle had their first kiss.

57th Street Books

1301 E 57th St

Chicago, IL 60637

Obama held launch parties here for his books, "Dreams" and "The Audacity of Hope," and has reportedly called it his favorite bookstore.

Students who went there last year agreed.

Valois

1518 E 53rd St

Chicago, IL 60615

Where Obama ate before heading to D.C. for his Senate job. The cafeteria-style restaurant does breakfasts and, on Thursdays and Sundays, chicken pot pie.

University of Chicago Law School

1111 E 60th St

Chicago, IL 60637

Obama taught here from 1993 to 2003. Designed by Eero Saarinen, the man who gave us the St. Louis Gateway Arch, it was another favorite of students who visited last year.

Basketball Courts

S Lake Shore Dr

(at Hayes)Chicago, IL

Where Obama and his brother-in-law, Craig Robinson (now a coach at Oregon State University), shot hoops.

South Shore Cultural Center -- Wedding reception

7059 S South Shore Dr

Chicago, IL 60649

Michelle and Barack were married on Oct. 3, 1992, and held their reception here.

Holy Rosary Catholic Church rectory

351 E 113th St

Chicago, IL 60628

Where Obama worked as a community organizer in the '80s, a job slammed by Republican vice-presidential candidate and future TV queen Sarah Palin at the GOP convention.

Grant Park's Hutchinson Field

E Congress Pkwy

Chicago, IL 60605

Grant Park's Hutchinson Field (just south of Congress Parkway, east of Michigan Avenue), is where Obama gave his victory speech on Election Night in front of 250,000 people.

Pre-election campaign headquarters

233 N Michigan Ave

Chicago, IL 60601

Hyatt Regency Chicago

151 E Wacker Dr

Chicago, IL 60601

Obama watched the election returns with his family and close campaign aides here.

Sidley & AustinChase Tower10 S Dearborn St

Chicago, IL 60603

Where Barack and Michelle met in 1989 while he was a summer associate. She was an associate mentor.

Federal Plaza

50 W Adams St

Chicago, IL 60603

Where Obama, as a state senator, gave a speech denouncing the Iraq war during a small 2002 anti-war rally.

Maria Pinto

135 N Jefferson St

Chicago, IL 60661

Maria Pinto, in the city's Market District, is the shop featuring silk scarves, cashmere scarves, ties and clothing designed by the person who dressed Michelle Obama for the Democratic National Convention.

Topolobampo

445 N Clark St

Chicago, IL 60610

A favorite dinner spot. Barack and Michelle are regulars, at one of the booths lining the restaurant's south side. They apparently order the guacamole and sopa Azteca.

1 comment:

Last year Dave Shorr got his face sliced & diced at the barbershop where Obama goes now - get him to tell that story if he hasn't already. We also went to valois and had some tasty Margaritas at just after noon, which was a great experience.Arrgh!!! I want to go back!